Luke 19:1-10. Not too small for Christ 4/11/07
(1) Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. {2} A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. {3} He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. {4} So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. {5} When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." {6} So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. {7} All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'" {8} But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." {9} Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. {10} For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
Here in this reading we have probably one of the best known narratives of the New Testament. The account of Zachaeus is one that probably all of us are familiar with. But have we really thought about what its message is for us; or is this just one of those nice stories that we like to hear?
Mind you, it is something that is tremendously uplifting and encouraging when we think about it. Unless we are one of those self-righteous, self-centred people who like to think that we are not too bad; and who have no place for those who are in trouble – the little people of our world and those on the outer in so far as society is concerned.
But when look at it from Zachaeus' position – a little person, who though he was wealthy, was considered inferior; and who knew deep down that he was in trouble - from that perspective this is a remarkable story. This account of Zachaeus shows us the real heart of God and the one sure hope that we as a humanity have got.
With that in mind let us look more closely at this whole event. First of all - who was Zachaeus and what do we know about him? He was a chief tax collector – in other words the head of the local taxation department. He was rich and it would seem that certainly some of his wealth came from ill-gotten means. So in today’s language he could be called, to a greater or lesser extent, a white-collar thief, or a cooperate criminal who has not been caught up with. He obviously had the favour of the Roman government to be in the position he was, and so was not likely to get into trouble from them. The indications are that the tax-collectors were recruited by the Romans from the local community to collect their taxes for them. Along with this it seems that often these collectors then would add on more than their fair share for themselves, as well. As a result, they were not popular on two counts: one – for collecting and supporting the Romans; secondly - they were ripping off their own people for their own selfish gain.
So Zachaeus was not the most liked person in town. In fact the opposite. No one was prepared to make room for him to see Jesus; and they were even more disgusted that Jesus should choose to go to his house for lunch. After all he was a rotten sinner; a traitor and a crook.
The interesting thing then is the fact that, despite who he was Zachaeus, wanted to see this Jesus. He had obviously heard stories going around, about this Jesus who was going about the countryside, healing and helping people; accepting those who were outcastes; giving hope to those in trouble - telling them that the Kingdom of God is breaking into our world. So here was someone quite different. Here was one who obviously came from God himself; with some already saying that here may be the Messiah himself – the one whom God had promised to come and save God's people.
So probably, Zachaeus goes for a look, hoping that this might all be true. Maybe he knows that not all is well in his life and that he needs God. Maybe he has come to the realization that his own self-centred - selfish way of life is not the answer; and that his riches were not giving him the happiness that he thought it would. Even more so the fact that some or much of it was ill-gotten made things even worse. Certainly he would not have been comfortable with the fact that he was on the outer within his own community. Probably what he had done in the past had caused lots of problems. But he was trapped - caught up in a real mess and not able to get out of it. Deep down he knew that he needed help – he needed a way out - he needed God. But would God want to have a bar of him, after all that he had done. Certainly the locals and the church leaders did not think so.
But if anyone can help him, surely God can. So when he hears that this man Jesus is coming his way - to his town – he races off to see him. Hoping for a glimpse. Hoping that just maybe – maybe – something might be of help to him. But when he gets near, the crowd is just too great and he is such a short man. On top of that nobody makes way for him to get near and so his heart drops. That is until he gets the notion to run ahead and climb a tree on the edge of the road. Then to his and everyone else’s surprise, when this Jesus comes by, not only does he see him, but turns and looks up at him in the tree and tells Zachaeus to come down out of the tree because he wants to come and have lunch with him.
In that instant, Zachaeus realizes that this Jesus knows all about him – he knows him and yet he accepts him. God has come to him to help him – to save him. He has given Zachaeus a way out. He has given him a future. God accepts him and is with him. This is great. This is the very best. Everything now will work out somehow: God has take care of it.
So Zachaeus’ first reaction is joy; but very quickly it turns to concern for all those he had wronged and those others less fortunate than himself. So he vows to pay back fourfold all that he had stolen, as well as give half of what he had to the poor.
Then we hear that amazing statement from Jesus: 'Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.’ Zachaeus has salvation because he has faith in God – he trusts that God alone has the answers and help that he needs. Jesus has saved him and provided a future for him. God will take care of him. Jesus concludes by saying that he came to seek and save what was lost. That is all such people as Zachaeus and you and me.
Yes, Jesus has come to help and save us also. For without God we too are lost: We too are little people - whether we have many talents or few; great or little wealth or influence; whether we are looked down on by others or not; we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. None of us live the way that God wants us to or are good enough to be acceptable to him. We all deserve eternity in Hell.
But God does not want it to end that way for any of us. That is why Jesus came and died on cross; so that we might be forgiven; so that we too may know for sure that God has saved us: that he comes to us again today – to you and me; no matter who we are or what we have done. Yes he also says to each one of us that he wants to stay in our house and in our hearts and lives, today and every day. He has come to assure us of the forgiveness of all of our sins. He has come to give us a better way of life and a great future for all eternity.
So go from here today knowing that Jesus to wants go with you and to give you all that is good and important. Trust him - trust him. For he did come to seek and save the lost. To him be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Toowoomba
(1) Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. {2} A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. {3} He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. {4} So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. {5} When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." {6} So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. {7} All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'" {8} But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." {9} Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. {10} For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
Here in this reading we have probably one of the best known narratives of the New Testament. The account of Zachaeus is one that probably all of us are familiar with. But have we really thought about what its message is for us; or is this just one of those nice stories that we like to hear?
Mind you, it is something that is tremendously uplifting and encouraging when we think about it. Unless we are one of those self-righteous, self-centred people who like to think that we are not too bad; and who have no place for those who are in trouble – the little people of our world and those on the outer in so far as society is concerned.
But when look at it from Zachaeus' position – a little person, who though he was wealthy, was considered inferior; and who knew deep down that he was in trouble - from that perspective this is a remarkable story. This account of Zachaeus shows us the real heart of God and the one sure hope that we as a humanity have got.
With that in mind let us look more closely at this whole event. First of all - who was Zachaeus and what do we know about him? He was a chief tax collector – in other words the head of the local taxation department. He was rich and it would seem that certainly some of his wealth came from ill-gotten means. So in today’s language he could be called, to a greater or lesser extent, a white-collar thief, or a cooperate criminal who has not been caught up with. He obviously had the favour of the Roman government to be in the position he was, and so was not likely to get into trouble from them. The indications are that the tax-collectors were recruited by the Romans from the local community to collect their taxes for them. Along with this it seems that often these collectors then would add on more than their fair share for themselves, as well. As a result, they were not popular on two counts: one – for collecting and supporting the Romans; secondly - they were ripping off their own people for their own selfish gain.
So Zachaeus was not the most liked person in town. In fact the opposite. No one was prepared to make room for him to see Jesus; and they were even more disgusted that Jesus should choose to go to his house for lunch. After all he was a rotten sinner; a traitor and a crook.
The interesting thing then is the fact that, despite who he was Zachaeus, wanted to see this Jesus. He had obviously heard stories going around, about this Jesus who was going about the countryside, healing and helping people; accepting those who were outcastes; giving hope to those in trouble - telling them that the Kingdom of God is breaking into our world. So here was someone quite different. Here was one who obviously came from God himself; with some already saying that here may be the Messiah himself – the one whom God had promised to come and save God's people.
So probably, Zachaeus goes for a look, hoping that this might all be true. Maybe he knows that not all is well in his life and that he needs God. Maybe he has come to the realization that his own self-centred - selfish way of life is not the answer; and that his riches were not giving him the happiness that he thought it would. Even more so the fact that some or much of it was ill-gotten made things even worse. Certainly he would not have been comfortable with the fact that he was on the outer within his own community. Probably what he had done in the past had caused lots of problems. But he was trapped - caught up in a real mess and not able to get out of it. Deep down he knew that he needed help – he needed a way out - he needed God. But would God want to have a bar of him, after all that he had done. Certainly the locals and the church leaders did not think so.
But if anyone can help him, surely God can. So when he hears that this man Jesus is coming his way - to his town – he races off to see him. Hoping for a glimpse. Hoping that just maybe – maybe – something might be of help to him. But when he gets near, the crowd is just too great and he is such a short man. On top of that nobody makes way for him to get near and so his heart drops. That is until he gets the notion to run ahead and climb a tree on the edge of the road. Then to his and everyone else’s surprise, when this Jesus comes by, not only does he see him, but turns and looks up at him in the tree and tells Zachaeus to come down out of the tree because he wants to come and have lunch with him.
In that instant, Zachaeus realizes that this Jesus knows all about him – he knows him and yet he accepts him. God has come to him to help him – to save him. He has given Zachaeus a way out. He has given him a future. God accepts him and is with him. This is great. This is the very best. Everything now will work out somehow: God has take care of it.
So Zachaeus’ first reaction is joy; but very quickly it turns to concern for all those he had wronged and those others less fortunate than himself. So he vows to pay back fourfold all that he had stolen, as well as give half of what he had to the poor.
Then we hear that amazing statement from Jesus: 'Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.’ Zachaeus has salvation because he has faith in God – he trusts that God alone has the answers and help that he needs. Jesus has saved him and provided a future for him. God will take care of him. Jesus concludes by saying that he came to seek and save what was lost. That is all such people as Zachaeus and you and me.
Yes, Jesus has come to help and save us also. For without God we too are lost: We too are little people - whether we have many talents or few; great or little wealth or influence; whether we are looked down on by others or not; we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. None of us live the way that God wants us to or are good enough to be acceptable to him. We all deserve eternity in Hell.
But God does not want it to end that way for any of us. That is why Jesus came and died on cross; so that we might be forgiven; so that we too may know for sure that God has saved us: that he comes to us again today – to you and me; no matter who we are or what we have done. Yes he also says to each one of us that he wants to stay in our house and in our hearts and lives, today and every day. He has come to assure us of the forgiveness of all of our sins. He has come to give us a better way of life and a great future for all eternity.
So go from here today knowing that Jesus to wants go with you and to give you all that is good and important. Trust him - trust him. For he did come to seek and save the lost. To him be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Toowoomba
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